Why Even Regulate A.I. ?

As an Alabamian, I share the deep-rooted Southern distrust of government meddling. We’d rather be left alone to sort things out ourselves, guided by community values and capitalist incentives. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), I try to remain optimistic but the pragmatic reality of where we find ourselves with AI grows more concerning each day.

WHERE WE ARE SO FAR

Government is behind the curve, but they are waking up to the plethora of issues and questions that AI will create. AI can be used nefariously to create deepfake scams tricking people out of money and spread mass misinformation to manipulate public opinion. It will also likely be used to automate away entire sectors of our economy. Our law makers are finally beginning to act on some of the more obvious worst-case uses of AI.

Alabama passed the Alabama Child Protection Act of 2024 (House Bill 168). It amends Alabama’s child pornography laws to treat AI-generated depictions of children under 18 in sexually explicit content the same as real child pornography. The law eliminates the defense that images are not of real children, imposes felony penalties, and allows victims’ families to file civil suits. Examples like these show law makers are starting to turn their attention on the dangerous uses of the new technology.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), a major budget reconciliation bill currently being debated in the U.S. Congress, includes a controversial provision that would impose a 10-year moratorium on states enforcing laws or regulations limiting or restricting artificial intelligence models. This provision has sparked significant dispute, with concerns raised about its implications for state authority and corporate accountability. Some Republicans, such as Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Rand Paul, oppose the AI provision. Massie has warned that it could enable corporations to bypass local zoning laws for AI data centers, impacting residential areas. Democrats argue that the provision protects corporations, potentially allowing AI to be used for practices like price-fixing, which could harm consumers. Figures like Gov. Ron DeSantis have publicly opposed the moratorium, emphasizing the importance of state authority to regulate AI. The Senate’s final version of the bill, expected by early July, will clarify whether the provision survives, is modified, or is removed.

Proponents argue the 10-year moratorium ensures a uniform federal framework for AI, preventing a patchwork of state regulations that could stifle innovation. This is a more convincing argument when looking at the global AI race going on between our country and countries like China. Critics, however, see it as a corporate giveaway that undermines local governance and consumer protections.

The problem with this is that AI isn’t just another tech innovation, it is a tool that will fundamentally reshape massive parts of our society. Left unchecked, it could upend Alabama’s way of life before we even know what hit us. AI’s scale means a single bad algorithm can tank economies or spread lies worldwide in hours. It hands tech giants’ power to shape decisions about jobs, loans, even potentially jail time with little accountability. And some risks, like AI-powered deepfakes or autonomous weapons, could cause damage markets can’t undo.

PROBLEMS AROUND THE CORNER

While to many AI just sounds like a trendy buzzword, it’s already creeping more into our daily lives unnoticed. As more companies adopt and integrate this technology it will bring problems that hit closer to home. Alabamians could face a slew of challenges if we don’t get ahead of this continuously improving tech. Here are some of the most pressing:

• Job Displacement: AI could automate jobs in Alabama’s key sectors like manufacturing, trucking, and healthcare. Without retraining programs, workers face unemployment.

• Privacy Violations: AI-powered surveillance (e.g., facial recognition in retail or smart devices) could erode personal privacy, especially in small towns where anonymity is already limited.

• Deepfakes and Fraud: Beyond child exploitation (as addressed in Alabama’s 2024 law), AI-generated scams (e.g., voice-cloning to trick seniors) are rising. These harm individuals and erode trust.

• Misinformation: AI-generated content could flood local news ecosystems, making it harder to discern truth, especially during elections.

WHO SHOULD TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS

Ideally, we the people should determine how we adopt this new technology. While there are many hurdles to overcome, there are optimistic outcomes where AI helps push humanity forward into a new age of abundance. These are pivotal moments where we will set the stage for decades ahead based on the policies we implement and how we choose to embrace this new responsibility. As pointed out previously there is division amongst the levels of government on where these issues should be addressed.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has thrown a wrench into this debate, with its plan to slap a 10-year ban on states passing AI laws. Supporters say it’s a smart move that would create a uniform federal framework keeping the U.S. competitive in the global AI race against China. For Alabama’s tech hub in Huntsville, where aerospace and innovation thrive, that’s not a bad argument. A patchwork of state rules could scare off investment. Alternatively, and I personally believe more likely, this moratorium could gut Alabama’s ability to protect its own. Our Child Protection Act of 2024 proved we can move faster than Congress to shield kids from AI-generated harm. A 10-year ban might leave us powerless against data centers plowing through our neighborhoods or AI price-fixing schemes hurting our consumers. Alabama knows its people better than D.C. does.

SOME POTENTIAL COMMON-SENSE POLICIES

Nobody wants a nanny state smothering progress, but we can’t sit idly by while AI reshapes Alabama. There are many practical, limited-government policies that balance innovation with protection. These should feel achievable:

• Transparency Requirements: Mandate that companies disclose when AI is used in high-stakes decisions (e.g., hiring, lending, criminal justice). Companies using AI to make decisions like rejecting job applications or loans should be transparent about how those decisions are made. This empowers consumers without stifling innovation.

• Anti-Deepfake Laws: Expand Alabama’s Child Protection Act to criminalize non-consensual deepfakes targeting adults, protecting against fraud and reputational harm.

• Privacy Safeguards: Require opt-in consent for AI-driven data collection (e.g., smart devices, facial recognition). This respects individual freedom while curbing surveillance.

• Workforce Transition Programs: Fund state-led retraining for workers displaced by AI, leveraging Alabama’s community colleges and trade schools.

These aren’t heavy-handed bans but guardrails to keep AI from trampling our communities. Alabama can lead the way, if Congress doesn’t tie our hands.

WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO?

This isn’t meant to scare you. At the Southern Institute for Digital Futures, our mission is to raise awareness about these issues. We aim to keep enough people informed to steer public policy in a positive direction. The best thing we can do right now is make people more aware of the reality facing us. Many folks still have no exposure to AI or only know it vaguely through trendy article headlines. Tell your grandparents to stay vigilant against AI scammers. Speak out about responsible AI use with family and friends. Get familiar with the tools out there and how the AI space is developing. Reach out to your representatives and demand they explain their plan for AI. This isn’t a hopeless scenario, and there’s still time to guide us down a more optimistic path.

      -Jacob